Donetsk, May 19 – DAN. Ukraine's representatives in the Contact Group have evaded the discussion over ceasefire coordination mechanism at the talks today, said DPR Foreign Minister Natalia Nikonorova.
"Instead of a dialog on the key issue of the security track, the modalities of the coordination mechanism to prevent and verify ceasefire violations within the JCCC in its current composition, Ukrainian negotiators slipped into speculations, this time on repair works, intransigently blaming the Republic for everything," she said.
Nikonorova added that security guarantees issuance for the period of repair works in Donbass would have been unnecessary if Ukraine observed the ceasefire and implemented the Additional Measures.
"Nevertheless, Ukrainian authorities show no signs of willingness (to do so) ignoring our calls for specification of the coordination mechanism operation. The fact that the mechanism is still unconcerted and that the shelling continues is another proof of Ukraine's unwillingness to engage in a productive cooperation in violations verification and to establish a lasting ceasefire."
The Additional Measures to Strengthen the Ceasefire were signed at the Contact Group meeting on July 22 to reinforce and control the indefinite ceasefire in effect since July 21, 2019, the latest in the series of more than 20 reconfirmation and announcements of the “silence regime”. The package came into effect on July 27. *ot